JERSEY CITY – In an effort to combat gun violence that claims 33 American lives every day, Jersey City Mayor-Elect Steven Fulop has joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the national bipartisan coalition of more than 950 mayors in 45 states committed keeping illegal guns and military-style weapons off their streets and out of their schools.

“I am proud to stand with the mayors of 950 other communities in the United States in support of the coalition’s efforts to remove illegal guns from our streets,” Fulop said. “My priority as mayor is to make every neighborhood in Jersey City safe and it begins with curbing gun violence.”

Fulop was elected mayor on May 14 and takes office on July 1.

In New Jersey, 110 mayors are members of the coalition, according to a release from Fulop’s office. Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has been a part of the coalition since its founding in 2006 by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“Jersey City has been a member of our bipartisan coalition since we started our work in 2006, and we’re excited to welcome Mayor-Elect Fulop as our newest member today,” Bloomberg said. “We look forward to working with him in the coming months as we continue to lead the fight for common sense gun legislation that will help save lives and keep our communities safe.”

Since the horrific mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., more than 250 new mayors have joined the coalition’s bipartisan ranks. The coalition also has more than 1.4 million grassroots supporters, making it the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country.

Members include Democrats, Republicans, and independents in big cities and small towns. While their backgrounds may differ, on the issue of gun violence they speak with one voice – united for the sake of public safety. The mayors understand that support for the Second Amendment goes hand-in-hand with the kind of common-sense gun policies that carry broad public support – including among gun owners.

Under the watch of 113th Congress, a total of 24,000 men, women, and children will fall victim to gun murder, according to Fulop’s press office. Mayors Against Illegal Handguns has called on Washington to take meaningful action to address the issue of gun violence in the United States, and the organization will continue to do so until its members believe sufficient progress has been made on this issue. Specifically, the organization wants:

• Every gun buyer to be required to pass a criminal background check;

• Every military-style weapon and high-capacity ammunition magazines off the streets;

• Gun trafficking to be a federal crime.

The mayor-elect is also urging colleagues, constituents, and violence prevention advocates to sign the organization’s petition at DemandAction.org.